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Pierre Bayle Biography

Pierre Bayle (French: [bɛl]; 18 November 1647 – 28 December 1706) was a French philosopher and writer best known for his seminal work the Historical and Critical Dictionary, published beginning in 1697.

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Pierre Bayle Quotes

I mention this only to shew that the citations of the most judicious authors frequently deceive us, and consequently that prudence obliges us to examine quotations, by whomsoever alleged.

Alleged, Citations, Deceiving, Examine, Frequently, Prudence

It is only common prejudice that induces us to believe that atheism is a fearful state.

Atheism, Believe, Fearful, Induces, Prejudice

Consider, I pray, whether you are not renouncing all shame and sincerity to advance such principles. Because a comet appears in a group of stars which the ancients thought fit to call the Virgin, therefore, shall our women be barren, or have frequent miscarriages, or die old maids. I know of nothing which hangs so ill together! To offer such things in seriousness, shows the greatest contempt of mankind, and the most scandalous lying impunity.

Call, Greatest, Lying, Miscarriage, Stars

The antiquity and general acceptance of an opinion is not assurance of its truth.

Acceptance, Assurance, Opinion, Truth

Philosophy can be compared to some powders that are so corrosive that, after they have eaten away the infected flesh of a wound, they then devour the living flesh, rot the bones, and penetrate to the very marrow. Philosophy at first refutes errors. But if it is not stopped at this point, it goes on to attack truths. And when it is left on its own, it goes so far that it no longer knows where it is and can find no stopping place.

Bones, Errors, Philosophy, Place, Refutes, Stopping

I know too much to be a sceptic and too little to be a dogmatist.

Dogmatist, Know, Knows, Littles, Sceptic, Too Much

No nations are more warlike than those which profess Christianity.

Christianity, Evil, Nations, Profess, Religious, Warlike

Compulsion in the literal Sense is maliciously misrepresented, by supposing it authorizes Violences committed against the Truth. The Answer to this; by which it is prov'd, that the literal Sense does in reality authorize the stirring up Persecutions against the Cause of Truth, and that an erroneous Conscience has the same Rights as an enlighten'd Conscience.

Atheism, Conscience, Reality, Rights, Same, Violences

The movement of comets is part of the ordinary works of nature which, without regard to the happiness or misery of mankind, are transported from one part of the heavens to another by virtue of the general laws of motion.

Atheism, Heaven, Law, Mankind, Nature, Ordinary

I lay down the Position, That whatever a Conscience well directed allows us to do for the Advancement of Truth, an erroneous Conscience will warrant for advancing a suppos'd Truth.

Advancement, Atheism, Erroneous, Lay, Wells

I get up and retire when I wish. I go out if I wish and I do not go out if I do not desire to do so, except for the two days on which I give lectures.

Desire, Giving, Lectures, Two, Wish

In matters of religion, it is very easy to deceive a man and very hard to undeceive him.

Atheism, Easy, Hard, Matter, Men, Religion

The furnace of affliction refines us from earthly drossiness, and softens us for the impression of God's own stamp.

Affliction, Impression, Softens, Stamp, Stamps

Properly speaking, history is nothing but the crimes and misfortunes of the human race.

Crime, History, Human, Humans, Misfortunes, Race

It is pure illusion to think that an opinion which passes down from century to century, from generation to generation, may not be entirely false.

Generations, Illusion, May, Opinion, Passes, Thinking

So that, were it the purpose of God to produce comets as signs of his wrath it would be true to say that he is quickening a false devotion almost all over the world, increasing the number of pilgrims to Mecca, multiplying the offerings to the most famous impostors, inducing men to build mosques for Mohammedan worship, causing the invention of new superstitions among the dervishes - in a word, stimulating many abominable things which otherwise might not have been.

Increasing, Men, Numbers, Stimulating, True, Wrath

Pierre Bayle Biography

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